Biden Blasts GOP, Shies Away From Philly Union Feud

Vice President Joe Biden speaks to the International Association of Fire Fighters on July 25 in Philadelphia.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Brynn Anderson

Vice President Joe Biden is seen at the International Association of Fire Fighters on July 25 in Philadelphia.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Brynn Anderson

Vice President Joe Biden speaks at the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) convention, Wednesday, July 25, 2012, in Philadelphia. Biden worked with the IAFF to reform the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program to ensure grants to put laid-off firefighters back on the job. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Photo credit: The Associated Press

Vice President Joe Biden speaks to the International Association of Fire Fighters on July 25 in Philadelphia.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Brynn Anderson

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Vice President Joe Biden told a national firefighters' union Wednesday that Republicans don't understand them and that government should be helping cities and states maintain fire services — not threatening to cut funding.

Firefighters face a "perfect storm," he told more than 3,000 firefighters at the annual meeting of the International Association of Fire Fighters. He cited the effects of the recession, budgetary policies in Congress and efforts to dismantle the collective-bargaining rights of firefighters and other public employees around the country.

"We should be cutting your taxes and helping cities and states maintain their fire service," Biden said.

He said Republicans look at firefighters and see an easy place to cut budgets.

"I don't think he understands what you're about," Biden said of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. He added: "This is not your father's Republican Party. They act like you're the community's problem."

Biden, however, avoided the contract dispute in Philadelphia between firefighters and Democratic Mayor Michael Nutter, an outspoken supporter of re-electing President Barack Obama. Firefighters plan a City Hall protest on Thursday.

After the speech, Romney's campaign issued a statement from a retired Philadelphia firefighter who said Obama is out of touch with the struggles of middle-class people.

"Joe Biden can come to Philadelphia, and he can try and tell the hard-working men and women of this city that he understands what we've been going through," said Fred Donnelly, a retired battalion chief. "But no matter what he says, he can't cover up the words of the president."

Donnelly cited Obama's recent comments about the private sector "doing fine" and the success of small-business owners, which Republicans have been using against the president.

"We know that he is simply out of touch with the struggles that middle-class Americans are going through, and that he doesn't understand what drives the American economy," Donnelly said of Obama.

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